By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.
Pandemonium erupted at Ilamose community in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos, at the weekend as some residents engaged the Osuolale family to a standstill and resisted them from demolishing their houses, in compliance with a court judgement.
This happened, just as the member representing Oshodi -Isolo Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Jude Idimogu intervened in the matter to also prevent the exercise from taken a full course.
Two out of the residents were however not too lucky, as their fence and gates had been destroyed before the intervention of the lawmaker.
Some members of the Osuolale family and staff had stormed the area at the early hours of Saturday, with a bulldozer to take possession of a large expanse of land, having been adjudged the owner of the land by justice C.O Williams of the Lagos High Court in a suit Nos.ID/1752/89ANDCA/L669/2007.
No sooner than the operator of the bulldozer commenced action on some of the houses located on Ilamose road, a few meter away from Destiny Filling Station than the residents kicked, claiming there exist a subsisting case before the same judge over the matter.
The aggrieved residents, who declined their identity to journalists, claimed that the judge had yet to give a directive on possession taking, hence vowed to prevent the exercise from having a full effect.
As the brouhaha, argument, counter argument of war of words continued, Hon. Idimogu emerged and pleaded with the Osuolale family to discontinue the action.
He immediately put a call to the head of the family Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale, with whom he had a discussion, which eventually led to the stoppage of the exercise.
Speaking with journalists afterwards, Idimogu said he has had an understanding with Osuolale to meet on Sunday for a peaceful resolution of the matter.
Saying that he wants to broker peace between the parties, Idimogu added that it would be heartbreaking for him for such exercise to take place under his watch as the lawmaker representing the constituency.
“I want to be personally involve so that anybody will not be cheated in the whole process. We have to sit at a round table to resolve the issues and that is why i called Alhaji myself.
“I believe destruction of property is not the best solution, let there be a peaceful resolution over it. If the claim of Alhaji is correct, he has to be compensated because all i want is peace in the community”, Hon Idimogu stressed.
He also assured that he would meet with the state government over the issue to see how the residents could be assisted in case they are evicted.
Also speaking with journalists at the scene, counsel to the land owner, Patrick Arasanya of Dei Croatia Chambers, said his client Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale of Osuolale Nig. Ltd has concluded plans with the Deputy Sheriff of the Lagos High Court to execute the ruling of Justice C.O Williams decided in his favour in 2006.
Following the ruling of the judge in a suit NOS. ID/1752/89 AND CA/L669/2007 covered by survey plan no. CD/728/77, Arasanya said his client had exhausted all peaceful avenue at ensuring the illegal residents complied with the court ruling by relinquishing the said land or ratify their title with the Attorney, who was willing and equally accepted the ratification process.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Arasanya said the residents proceeded to the Appeal Court, adding that the court affirmed the ruling of Hon. Williams of the High Court, which favoured his client.
“The judgement of appeal was given in 2011 and till date, nothing has been served on us from the Supreme Court as to whether they protest the appeal court ruling. The law says an appeal must be entered three months after judgement”, he explained.
Consequent, he added that a peaceful settlement/negotiation was initiated by the traditional ruler of Ejigbo land HRM. Oba Morrof Adekunle Adisa Ojoola and some notable leaders of the town including a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He said a public notice through the mass media had earlier been served on the recalcitrant residents, notifying them of the expiration date of the memorandum of understanding and plan to execute the court judgement.
The public notice reads in part,” This is to notify and remind the people of Ilamose Community in Oke- Afa, Ejigbo Lagos State that the memorandum of understanding dated March 2016 asking for a year of grace voluntarily signed with Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale of Osuolale Nig. Ltd. based on the land judgement in favour of Ojo-Barber family will lapse by the 28th February, 2017 and the court judgement will be executed by them. Those who have not complied with the agreement and read to do so should contact Alhaji Hakeem Osuolale before 28/2/2017″.
